Top 12 Headlines Of 2012: Reality TV Roundup (#10)

December 21, 2012 03:16 PM EDT

Chances are in 2012, you were watching just as much reality TV (if not more!) as you were scripted small screen fun, and this year there was no shortage of drama, thrills, excitement and unexpected hits… “redneckognize” that reality TV rocked this year!

As AccessHollywood.com counts down The Top 12 Headlines Of 2012, we continue with 2012’s breakout reality TV star, TLC’s Honey Boo Boo, Alana Thompson, who took the country by storm. With her wild antics, even wilder (but loving) family and catchphrases, the pint-sized star racked up huge ratings and tons of Hollywood fans!

Access was graced with Honey Boo’s presence many times this year, including an impromptu song by the youngster about fellow reality TV star Kim Kardashian, HERE!

ABC announced that the next “Bachelor” to search for love will be Sean Lowe, who was previously eliminated by Emily. And, will “Dancing with the Stars” pro Cheryl Burke be the next “Bachelorette”? See what she told Access about possibly handing out roses to would-be suitors, HERE!

“DWTS” crowned two mirrorball champs in 2012, first was Donald Driver and partner Peta Murgatroyd, followed by Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani, who took home the trophy for the “All-Stars” edition. See what Melissa and Tony had to say to Access after their recent big win, HERE!

But let’s be honest, the “Dancing” is great, but we also love all the skin in the ballroom! Check out some the hottest shirtless men from 2012 and years past, HERE!

Reality TV singing competitions were also huge this year, both for their contestants and judge shakeups (“The Voice,” “American Idol” and “The X Factor” all mixed it up!)

MTV’s “Jersey Shore” will come to a close this year after six seasons — and countless “GTL” sessions. So, what do Paul “DJ Pauly D” DelVecchio and Vinny Guadagnino think everyone will be doing 10 years from now? See what they told Access, HERE!

“I love Lorenzo so much – he’s perfect, he’s an amazing baby,” the 24-year-old reality mom told Billy Bush and Kit Hoover in October. “I used to care about like, partying, like what’s going on tonight, what am I going to wear, and now it’s like, what is Lorenzo going to wear to bed? He’s so cute, I just wanna cuddle with him.”

Also, scripted and reality TV blurred this year on “Survivor: Philippines,” with the addition of former “The Facts of Life” star Lisa Whelchel – who played Blair Warner on the ‘80s sitcom.

Find out why she told AccessHollywood.com that child/teen stardom didn’t help her when it came to navigating her way through the game, HERE!

Tomorrow, our countdown continues with the #9 headline of 2012, as we look back at the rise of “The Hunger Games.”